I just don't get it!

Better an unknown actor than the typical and well known male actors to play the lead of any adaptations.

And yet, despite all that, SAHARA the film is STILL well liked.

To wit:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sahara/movie, August 2, 2011
By
Robert E. Hemmert "REH Bookworm2729" (Blackfoot, ID, U S A) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified

This review is from: Sahara (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

Really enjoyed the adaptation from the novel 'Sahara' written by Clive Cussler. Lots of action, and followed the story line very well. I thought the actors portrayed the characters the way Cussler has them written on paper. Very well cast.

Good call, Robert.......

Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is as a bad a casting call as the doofus that played Rudi in Sahara.
I realize that most people in this world think the sun shines out Cruises arse but casting him as the 6ft 5inch 240lb Reacher when he's only 5 ft 7inches tall is like getting an Ewok to play Chewbacca.

I know you're not going to get a literal adaption of ANY book to movie but come on at least make an attempt to get the leading actor right.

I've read about half of the Lee Child Reacher books and they're pretty good but you can tell that he's written them with big screen adaptions in mind. Good action,good plots, good dialouge but very simply written. Not saying it's a bad thing,some of my favorite Cusslers are the earlier simple ones.

While your remark about Cruise as Reacher has merit, Child has said on many occasions that Reacher's size was a metaphor for the fact that he is an unstoppable force. Whether you believe that or not or buy it as a literal concept, it's what the author thinks. Mickey Spillane,who created Mike Hammer, never described his character in any novels because he stated in several interviews that Hammer was a "state of mind". But perhaps Child realizes the value of not distancing from what could be a valuable franchise which Cussler, of course, failed to do in any respect. That being said, it's safe to assume that Child was writing his novels with eventual screen adaptations in mind. But he also realizes what can be achieved with a fresh and, perhaps, different approach to his stories that a successful screen translation can bring and breathe new life into his novels. That is what adaptations to the screen are all about. Plus, it will sell many more books and enliven the whole Reacher saga, especially with an actor like Cruise. Robert Downy, considered by Sherlockians to be totally miscast as the Great Detective, has done wonders in increasing Sherlock Holmes already pronounced literary profile. Child obviously sees the wisdom in that. The very fact that many folks STILL think SAHARA is a great film and adaptation ( see previous post) only continue to amplify the fact and folly of the absurdity of Cussler's opinion and asinine lawsuit which serves as a reminder of how wealthy self absorbed people can squander legal resources.